What is the PEL Program?

PEL is a two year fellowship (a training year followed by an internship) designed to give young people who wish to become teachers an understanding of the fundamentals of progressive theory while learning from their experiences at four different progressive schools. PEL's mission is to prepare new teachers to become powerful educators and agents of change in the profession.

An Experiential Curriculum

The experiential curriculum will be braided with theoretical work in:

• The social foundations of progressive education

• Child, adolescent and adult development

• Brain research, learning styles and adaptive teaching

• Summative and formative assessment

• Curriculum and lesson design

In the first year PEL fellows learn and travel in a cohort, spending one quarter of the year at each of the four PEL schools. Theoretical learning is braided together with hands-on experience and mentoring from master teachers. Fellows become part of a community of practice at each school, observing and working with talented teachers in all disciplines.

Major themes carry through the year, with each school quarter having a particular focus:

• The Calhoun School: Place-based curriculum

• Cambridge School of Weston: Integrated studies

• The Unquowa School: Community collaborations

• The Putney School: Project and inquiry based learning

Upon successful completion of the first year rotation, each PEL fellow is given a paid internship on the faculty of one of the PEL schools. The fellow continues to work closely with a mentor, and gains teaching experience which will prepare them for the job market and a career as agents of change in the profession.

After completion of the program, fellows will remain part of the PEL community of practice and continue to work with their cohort and mentors as they embark on teaching jobs in various progressive schools across the country and the world.